Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume8 Chapter3 (section)

===Part 7===

"---It's here, isn't it."

The aforementioned Sealed Library was inside an annexed library.

A sturdy iron door stood before Rinslet.

"......Darn, it's locked."

It was obvious it would be. There were hundreds of dangerous spirit magic books in there, after all.

"Yeah, that's why, let's go back to the room already."

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Claire tugged on the hem of her dress.

"Enough with the sleep talk. This kind of lock means nothing to me---"

Rinslet gave a fearless smile and started chanting in spirit language quietly.

Doing so, all at once, the six locks were filled with keys of ice that fit just perfectly.

Turning them, the door opened with a heavy sound.

"Amazing......!"

"Hmph, this much is obvious if one plans to enter Areishia Spirit Academy."

Long stairs that continued downward were behind the door.

There was no light; it continued in pitch black darkness.

"A-Are we really going in?"

"Oh my, are you getting cold feet?"

"......I've heard something. That there's a bad spirit inhabiting an old book."

"Hmph, you really are scared."

Rinslet said it like she was amazed.

"Truthfully, I'm disappointed. That a family member of the Elstein house which the Fire Queen belongs to would be this kind of coward. If the little sister is like this, the older sister must also be not much---"

"Stop talking bad about nee-sama!"

Rinslet closed her mouth in realization at Claire's icy voice.

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"I am nee-sama's little sister. I am no coward."

The girl glared at Rinslet with tears in her ruby eyes.

"......Is that so."

Rinslet shrugged.

"Fine. If so, then come along."

"......O-Okay."

Claire nodded as if she'd made her resolve.

(......For now, it seems like she has the will.)

The two continued down the stairs.

"It's dark, isn't it. Is there no lamp or spirit crystal light?"

Rinslet sighed and,

"---O flames, illuminate."

Claire created a small shining flame on her palm.

"Oh my, you can use spirit magic?"

Rinslet was surprised. To be able to use spirit magic at this age, she had a lot of potential.

"Nee-sama taught me the basics."

"Hmm, you really are the daughter of the Elstein house that governs flames. Although it's not up to my level."

---And at that time. She realized something.

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Even if it was beginner-level, that she had managed to use a spirit magic endowed with the flame element meant that---

"Could you possibly already have a contracted spirit?"

"Yes, I have one."

Claire nodded.

"Really?"

She was becoming more and more surprised. Having a contracted spirit basically marked her as a full-fledged elementalist.

"Show me for a bit. Your contracted spirit."

"I can't. It's bad to summon a spirit unnecessarily if you're inexperienced."

Claire replied with sound logic. But Rinslet didn't back down.

"Oh my, if you won't show it, I suppose it's that low of a spirit?"

"Y-You're wrong, Scarlet is a very strong spirit!"

"If that's so, then prove it."

"......~!"

Claire was lost in indecision for a while but---

It was not okay for an elementalist to take a contracted spirit lightly.

Finally she nodded resolutely and,

"......Fine, I'll make a special exception to show you."

She took out a stick of chalk from within her dress' skirt.

She drew a magic square on the wall with difficulty and began chanting the spirit language summoning ritual.

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---Guardian of the crimson blaze, keeper of the undying hearth!

---Now's the time to abide by the blood contract, come forth and do my bidding!

In an instant, a spirit seal in the shape of flames surfaced on the back of her right hand.

A small fireball appeared from the center of the magic square and suddenly became the figure of a hell cat enshrouded in flames.

It was about the size of a squirrel, a small and adorable kitten.

"This is Scarlet."

Claire hugged the hell cat veiled in flames in her arms.

"Oh my, it's quite small, isn't it."

Rinslet smiled with composure and,

"S-Scarlet may be small, but she's powerful!"

Claire puffed her cheeks.

"Well, I'll give you credit for being able to summon your contracted spirit. But it cannot compare to my Fenrir."

Fenrir was the high-level spirit Rinslet had contracted on her sixth birthday.

She drew a magic square on the wall like Claire and chanted the spirit language summoning ritual.

---Oh freezing beast with Ice-teeth, merciless hunter of the forest.

---Now is the time to abide the contract of blood, hasten to my side as commanded!

A spirit seal representing ice appeared on the back of her right hand.

And a fierce icy wind stormed through the stairway and---

A large white wolf appeared from thin air.

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"Amazing......!"

Claire's ruby eyes widened.

"Fufun, isn't he?"

"......Cute!"

Rinslet fell down.

"H-He isn't cute or anything like that; Fenrir is a ferocious white wolf!"

"Kuun......"

Fenrir let out a sad cry at being called not cute by his master.

"That's not true. He's really cute."

Claire touched Fenrir's fur and,

"D-Don't just touch him as you please!"

Rinslet shot out her finger and returned her contracted spirit to Astral Zero.

"Ahh......"

"Now then, let's go."

"W-Wait---!"

Claire also sent Scarlet back and hurried after Rinslet.

---The two continued to descend down the endless stairs.

"This is pretty long. Rather, is there even a bottom?"

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"Rinslet-chan, isn't it about time to head back......"

"Stop calling me Rinslet-chan!"

"Y-Yeah......sorry, Rinslet-chan."

"Haaa, whatever already!"

Rinslet sighed, astounded.

Finally, the stairs ended and the two arrived at the Sealed Library.

It was a large space with a high ceiling. The air was chilly.

Claire held the flame light aloft, showing the many tall bookshelves.

"So this is the famous sealed library."

"Yeah, what an amazing amount of books......!"

It seemed that it was also Claire's first time setting foot in here so she couldn't hide her excitement.

Indeed, the bookshelves were lined with books that seemed to have history to them.

"---I wonder if these are about rituals."

Rinslet slowly took one of them in hand.

The instant she blew away the dust on the cover and opened it,

"Kyaa! W-What is this!"

With a beet red face, she threw the book.

"W-What's wrong!"

"Th-There was a picture of holding hands with a gentleman!"

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"......H-Hands!?"

Claire timidly turned the book with a dubious expression.

"Fuaaa, t-this one has them l-linking arms!"

"Wh-whwh-what immodesty!"

The two screamed kyaa, kyaa.

For the sheltered noble young ladies, it was much too stimulating.

Rinslet roughly closed the book.

"Th-This is a book for adults! Let's search for a different book!"

"Y-Yeah, that's right......!"

The two were flushed red as they exchanged nods.